Toy safety

Active play with toys is very important for child development. Play not only helps develop a child's brain but it enables them to problem solve, develop reading and arithmetic skills and to develop creativity. Suggest to the group that instead of rewarding their child with sweets, that they save up the money each week and every so often buy their child a new toy of their choice.

According to research in America, children are not disappointed by toy treats rather than sweets. It is also good to encourage children from a young age to get involved with the selection of their toys.

Toys must meet strict safety criteria and if purchased from a reputable store will normally be safe to use. However parents need to be aware about hidden hazards and the dangers if younger children play with their older sibling's toys, the dangers of buying cheap toys from the street traders or fairgrounds, or using second hand toys.

Toys are involved in over 40,000 accidents each year, however most of these accidents occur when people trip over toys and when babies play with toys intended for older children.

What is a toy?

A toy is 'any product or material designed or clearly intended for use in play by children of less than 14 years of age' but does not include such items as children's fashion jewellery or Christmas decorations.

Christmas decorations

Sales of toys are governed by strict regulations to protect young children from choking but this does not apply to Christmas decorations. However sometimes it is hard to tell the difference.

There are a large range of Christmas decorations that look like toys and are attractive to children as toys. However these can be unsafe. 91 different types were tested by Trading Standards Officers across the South-West in the run up to Christmas last year. 58 of them could have caused an injury to a child left alone to play with it. Even a Christmas stocking was found on sale with the wording 'unsuitable for children under 36 months', odd when you consider that most stockings are bought for young children.

It is important to check the labels. Many items state 'This is a decoration, not a toy', 'keep out of the reach of children', 'for use as a decoration only'. Think carefully before buying these products or place somewhere out of reach.

See our resources page for posters, leaflets and activity sheets.